Abstract

CARIGI, Leticia; GARCIA-ROJAS, Jorge  and  MENESES-GOYTIA, Sofía. Chemical Evolution and the Galactic Habitable Zone of M31. Rev. mex. astron. astrofis [online]. 2013, vol.49, n.2, pp.253-273. ISSN 0185-1101.

We have computed the Galactic Habitable Zones (GHZs) of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) based on the probability of terrestrial planet formation, which depends on the metallicity (Z) of the interstellar medium, and the number of stars formed per unit surface area. The GHZ was obtained from a chemical evolution model built to reproduce a metallicity gradient in the galactic disk, [O/H](r)=-0.015 dex kpc^-1x r(kpc) + 0.44 dex. If we assume that Earth-like planets form with a probability law that follows the Z distribution shown by stars with detected planets, the most probable GHZ per pc² is located between 3 and 7 kpc for planets with ages between 6 and 7 Gyr. However, the highest number of stars with habitable planets is located in a ring between 12 and 14 kpc with a mean age of 7 Gyr. 11% and 6.5% of the all formed stars in M31 may have planets capable of hosting basic and complex life, respectively.

Keywords : galaxies [evolution]; galaxies [individual (M31)]; planets and satellites [formation].